Uncharted 4: 5 Interesting Facts About Nadine Ross

May 31, 2016, 12:00 pm

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First unveiled in a trailer for Uncharted 4 at the 2015 Game Awards, Nadine has caught our attention ever since. Those of you who have played Nathan Drake's latest outing will know about the South African mercenary, or maybe you weren't playing close enough attention, here's five fun facts about Uncharted 4's beautiful Nadine Ross. 



Nadine Can Probably Kick Your Ass



Appearances can be deceiving, especially in the case of Nadine. Despite her innocent looks, she's a highly skilled and impressive martial arts expert who exceeds in hand to hand combat. Nadine's easily able to hold her own against Nathan Drake and Sam in one instance, both of whom are much larger in stature than she is.



She Controls an Army of Powerful Men



Not only is Nadine a ruthless mercenary but she also controls a private military company called Shoreline, an army that was originally controlled by her father who has since passed away. Once he died Nadine took charge of the private company and became it's new leader, her army takes on various security and military contracts globally.



Nadine's a Very Important Character in Uncharted 4



Nadine's the secondary antagonist in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, meaning she's a pretty important character in the game and not some insignificant pest that Nathan Drake drops with ease. Throughout Uncharted 4, Nadine and her army of men assist Rafe Adler in his quest to find the mythological pirate settlement of Libertalia.



Nadine is The Only Major Antagonist to Survive In Uncharted.



After Naughty Dog killed off all their black characters in The Last of Us (2013), we could only imagine the worst possible outcome for Nadine in A Thief's End, but ironically Nadine is the only major villain in the series to survive. (We love it!)



She's Voiced by Laura Bailey



Although Nadine Ross is a South African woman, she is in fact voiced by Laura Bailey, a White American voice actress. This sparked understandable controversy as some people felt that Nadine should have been voiced by a black voice actor. Nevertheless Naughty Dog defended their decision in casting Laura Bailey for a black role.

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15 Things We Want in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

June 3, 2016, 12:38 am

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After the original Final Fantasy 14 flopped, Square Enix managed to get their act together and thus Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was born anew. Several years on and SE has managed to round up millions of subscribers with an ever growing world of content to sink yourself into.

There's a bundle of things to do in FFXIV: ARR and while Square has managed to create a highly desirable and enjoyable MMORPG experience, we feel there's still features missing that could ultimately make XIV one of the best MMO of this decade. So we've given our thoughts and feedback on what could make the game better or what's missing overall.

Path Companions



Path companions were available in the original version of Final Fantasy XIV. Like the chocobo companions we have today, they aided you on your quest in battle. Players were faced with a number of important decisions when selecting the path companion just right for them.

After choosing a class and nickname, players also were given the choice to select their race and gender. You could say these companions are similar to the retainers we have today, only the retainers ain't given the opportunity to travel around Eorzea with us.

We'd like the path companions to make a return alongside our chocobo pals, even if it's for cosmetic purposes. While we do love our chocobos, it would be great to have a hyur companion fighting beside us.
 

Map Waypoints



In Final Fantasy XI you were able to set waypoints on the map, but for some odd reason this feature ceased to return in Final Fantasy XIV. It's left us including many players scratching our heads as to why they wouldn't bring such an important feature back.

An option to set waypoints on the main map to show on the minimap would make venturing around Eorzea more of a ease.

Improved Mounts



Travelling on mounts is somewhat faster than travelling on foot in FFXIV and once you obtain your own company chocobo mount at level 20, you'll be relieved to know getting to places and avoiding monsters will be a breeze in comparison to temporarily sprinting, but the mounts still are missing a few vital things which would make it complete.

For one we feel the mounts need a sprint mechanic because while our feathery friends and fiends are fast, when running across the map to find a fate or travelling to pick up a quest, we'd like them to pick up even more speed and not arrive to a fate when it's at 90%. Like the chocobo racing mechanic we'd like either like a sprint button or better yet just make them faster.

We would also like the ability to talk to NPCs on our mounts rather than having to dismount every time we converse with someone. It would certainly make the world of difference in our eyes.



Story Catch up Mechanic



A Realm Reborn's plot is huge and will keep you occupied for a very long time. Players who just want to jump straight into the dlc action to try out new job classes and other features will have to have reached level 50 and have completed the main story.

Which got us thinking, wouldn't it be cool if new players had access to a potential catch up mechanic system which would assist them through the story mode fairly quickly so they can get to the Heavensward content at will?

Triple EXP, high level NPC parties and echo buff would be great. Or better yet, allowing players to skip the story and return to it at their leisure would be a much better alternative.



Alt Characters at Max Level



The game allows you to create several other individual characters which is a neat feature for players who want to start afresh, roleplay or see the main story line plots in the other two cites.

It would be great if you could re-roll a new character with the stats of your main character, so for example once your main character completes the story, your new character could reap the benefits of the first character. Giving them access to the end game content, unlocked locations and inventory as an optional choice.



New Mini-Games



With the inclusion of the Gold Saucer in patch 2.51, we were given the chance to play several mini games including the triple triad card game from Final Fantasy VIII. Now maybe we've being greedy but we simply desire more.

Over the years Final Fantasy has included many memorable and weird mini games for players to dive into and we'd like to see many of return in ARR.



The Favour System



The Favour System was an April Fools' joke from Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV developers. It was a joke news about a dating sim system being introduced to Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, posted on their official site of the game on April 1, 2014.

Now we would love this joke become a reality. The one thing that Final Fantasy XIV is severely lacking is romantic elements like the Final Fantasy games of old.

While the system described was obviously a bit over the top, we feel the game really needs to adopt some kind of concept similar to that. This would be a creative way to develop more depth to some of the characters as well as give some interesting dialog changes in the main story line. Besides every game is better with dating sim elements.



New Hairstyles



Aside from race, a variety of hairstyles would be a blessing in disguise for players who want their characters to stand out from the pack. The game does have quite a few decent hairstyles but we'd like the option to have more ethnic hairstyles to choose from, maybe even throw in some classic Final Fantasy haircuts while you're at it SE.



Affordable Housing



Many will find the pricing of accommodation ridiculous and rightfully so. Personal Housing as it stands costs a lot of money which makes us wonder, how much is a double cheese burger in Eorzea, 10K? Either lowering the cost of housing or implementing a rent system would work like a charm.



Consistent Facial Expressions



While a minor feature, it's quite charming to see your character express themselves through facial emotes, but alas for some reason they are only brief. We're pretty sure it isn't difficult to implement optional persistent facial emotes.

There could even be an option for your character to have "moods." So say if you set your mood to sad your character would frown, do the /disappointed emote, sigh or cry at regular intervals.



Clickable Mini Aetheryte Icon on Map



Since you can teleport to a city location by simply clicking on the large Aetheryte crystal on the map, also being able to click the miniature Aetheryte crystals on the map would ease players who wish to go to a particular part of the city rather than being bought to the main Aetheryte.



Races of Ivalice and Gaia



The world of Ivalice has some interesting races that we think would fit well into the melting pot of Final Fantasy XIV. Vieras, Bangaas and Aegyls from the Final Fantasy XII series are our top picks for the next races we want to see introduced.

Final Fantasy IX is another world which has some rather unique races which we would like to see included like the Burmecian rats and Black Mage dolls.


Better Companion System



The chocobo companion is your best friend in ARR and a major relief in battle but the whole system could be improved upon in many ways. For one we feel that companions should be allowed to follow you into all quests and dungeons, also the chocobo really doesn't have to be on a timer any more.



New Mounts and Minions



While improving improving the mechanics of mounts is one thing, we'd also like to see more of a variety in regards to mount and minions designs in the game. Some mounts we would like to see include the Not-so-Jumbo Cactuar, T-Board and Red XIII just to name a few. As for minions? How about a Moomba from Final Fantasy VIII?

New Vanity Gear



While the heavy armour, helmets, pointy hats and robes look highly fitting for Eorzea, Glamour gear is a breath of fresh air and looks absolutely stylish on characters, it also give players the option to cosplay as other characters.

It's simple, we want more vanity clothing to wear. The stuff available is a nice but it wouldn't hurt to add more casual clothing.


Conclusion

The game has come a long way since 2013 and it's only getting better with each passing year, but we feel adding these 15 new features will make it even more enjoyable for us and many other players. What do you think and what would you want to see included in the next patch or expansion pack for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn?

Muhammad Ali's Legacy in Video Games

June 4, 2016, 4:24 am

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The legendary professional boxer Muhammad Ali, who was frequently referred to as one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of boxing, has passed away. Over the course of his boxing career, Muhammad managed to defeat 56 opponents to cement his legacy.

Ali was a legend inside and outside of boxing, not only known for his witty and inspirational quotes like "Float like a butterfly, sting like like a bee", but also his urgency in fighting and standing behind noble causes, which in turn elevated him above the rest.

Ali was a rebellious and intellectual individual who transcended sport, and is without any doubt the most socially momentous athlete of all-time, ask anybody who Muhammad Ali was, and they could tell you.

Muhammad is survived by his spouse Yolanda Williams and nine of their offspring, including Laila Ali, who also became a victorious boxing champion. Ali also made appearances in several boxing video games, some of which include him as the title character. 



Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Boxing (1992)



Muhammad Ali got his first breakthrough in video games through 1992's Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Boxing. A fighting game which was released on Sega Genesis/Megadrive and Nintendo Gameboy. Ali was the only licensed heavyweight boxer in the game and had to face off against nine generic heavyweights to nab the gold.



Greatest Heavyweights (1993)



A year later in 1993 Ali would appear in Greatest Heavyweights, the sequel to Evander Holyfield's "Real Deal" Boxing on Sega Genesis/Megadrive. Unlike the original game, you now could select all of the legendary heightweight boxers which included yours truly, Muhammad Ali.



Foes of Ali (1995)



Ali would receive his second game in 1995 entitled "Foes of Ali". Unlike his previous game, this one was exclusive to 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console. The game featured Muhammad Ali and nine of his real life opponents, but one of his most notable opponents
George Foreman was absent.



Virtual Wrestling Pro 64 (1997)



It wouldn't be until two years later in 1997 that Muhammad Ali would make his triumph return to the world of video games, a wrestling game at that. Ali would appear in Nintendo 64's Virtual Pro Wrestling 64 alongside Mike Tyson as a unlockable character in the game.



Knockout Kings Series (1998-2003)



EA's flagship boxing title prior to Fight Night was one of the major boxing games on the scene between 1998 to 2003. It featured numerous famed boxers which players could either face off against or choose to play as, Ali was one of those legends. He would also appear on the 2000 and 2002 front covers of the game.



EA Final Night Series (2004-2011)



EA returned with their most successful series of boxing games to date, Fight Night. Like Knockout Kings, the game featured a variety of upcoming and legendary boxers who the player could choose. Also like their previous flagship boxing title, Muhammad Ali was a playable character. He would feature on the Final Fight Round 4 cover along with Tyson.



Shaqdown 2 (2014)



As of 2016, the last game to feature the legendary boxer would be ShaqDown 2, an android game released in 2014. He was one of the guest star athletes you could unlock and play as. Naturally, Ali has special abilities like rocket-powered boxing mitts that shoot off his fists for a ranged attack.

Final Fantasy XII Remaster is Happening

June 6, 2016, 2:40 pm

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In an interview with Rpg Site, Square Enix game's director Kitase was asked a number of questions regarding the status of Final Fantasy's X|X-2, but amongst those questions and responses one section of the interview stuck out like a sore thumb. It was simply to do with the revival of previous instalments, most notably the infamous Final Fantasy XII.

As quoted from the interview.. We might be one step closer to getting to see Vaan’s emaciated, whiny abs in glorious HD on PSP Vita and PS4. Prediction: Square denies this is true on Monday, then announces it on Wednesday.

 "We'll have to wait and see if these remasters are going to be successful, first," he explained. "If they do well, I think this will pave the way for more of the previous games to remade in an HD sort of quality.

 I mean, if we had to single out one of the vast number of Final Fantasy titles which we could make in HD, it would have to be Final Fantasy XII." 

This means is it leaves a door open for previous FInal Fantasy games to be remastered in stunning HD but only if the FFX/X/2 collection does well in sales. Now take it as you will but this is good news, especially for Final Fantasy fans and leaves more hope alive for ps1 Final Fantasy classics to see the light of day.

UPDATE (02/08/2015): Final Fantasy Composers Tease FFXII 'Remake'



At a Final Fantasy Distant Worlds concert in Pittsburgh on Saturday, music composer Arnie Roth at random proclaimed that yes, Final Fantasy XII is receiving a remake, much to the surprise of fans'. Hitoshi Sakimoto who scored FFXII was also present.

If this is real, it isn't exactly surprising as FFXII is the only Final Fantasy in the series which you can’t play on modern consoles, but it’s still great news for anyone who lost their chance to play the original or simply wants to replay the adventures of Vaan and party.

Let's not jump our guns just yet though as Roth could be inaccurate or misinformed but he sure does sound positive about it via ia Final Fantasy Network. It’s very strange for a composer to be making random announcements in this fashion.

So there’s reason to be weary, but RPG fans didn't need a crystal ball to see that a FFXII remake would be on the horizon after the prosperity of Final Fantasy X HD remaster on PS3.

Update (6/6/2016): Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is coming to PS4!

Square Enix have officially confirmed that "Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age," a remake based on the 2007 Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job, is set to be released in 2017 and will include higher definition backgrounds, character models and cut scenes.



So what else can we expect from Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age? Well for one it will feature an improved job system with additional levelling options. An auto-save feature, quicker loading times and a speed mode will also be included.

Just like the FFX HD remaster for PlayStation 4, the soundtrack will be re-recorded with a choice to choose between the original score or remastered version from composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. You also have the option to switch between the English and Japanese voice actors. Trophies and share options for the PS4 will also be a new feature.

Don't forget you can also check out a gallery of images for the new FFXII remaster on Gematsu, which look glossy. (Fun fact: Final Fantasy XII initially released just two months before Final Fantasy Versus XIII (now FFXV) was announced.) 

Fighting Games Obsession With Kawaii Anime Girls

June 8, 2016, 1:55 pm

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The rise of female fighters who are clearly created for the sole purpose of appealing to the "moe/kawaii" subculture in Japan is causing a rift between the fighting game community. Let it be known, there's no problem with a female inspired anime character per say, until they start multiplying and taking over a franchise.

With all these anime cutesy fighters, where is room for more original and mature looking character concepts? It appears recently in every Japanese fighting game you'll always come across a dozen 'kawaii' fighters who have little purpose other than to appease a otaku audience.

With all these anime cutesy fighters, where is room for more original and mature looking character concepts?

The word kawaii was primitively used to describe only children, little animals and dolls but it has come to represent Japanese pop culture. Cute is cool in Japan and as expected, kawaii culture is dominated by Japanese females. This epidemic has since taken over Japanese fighting games.

In the nineties we saw more less cringe worthy and more authentic character concepts, but unfortunately that's been thrown out the window in favour of younger looking anime school girls. We can't recall when this phenomenon first caught on but fighting games haven't been able to recover.



Tekken 7's new female fighter "Lucky Chloe"caused some controversy online when she was first unveiled in 2014, so much that the director Katsuhiro Harada jumped on Twitter to defend the J-pop cat girl, sarcastically threatening to pull her from the western version.

Fighting game fans wasn't fond of the new character—many not feeling her appearance, which they felt was uncreative and generic in comparison to the older and more mature looking characters the Tekken series was once praised for (animals and robots aside).

Even before the arrival of Lucky Chloe Namco Bandai has been known for creating kasg, which is why Harada isn't given kudos for creating a fighter like Lucky Chloe. Had the character been a less represented race, ethnicity or concept then maybe the reception would have been different.

Tekken isn't the only game with a kasg fetish, Dead or Alive is another fighting game notorious for kawaii anime girls, one of the reasons why the series is severely lacking in diversifying it's cast.



Since Dead or Alive 5 released in 2012 Team Ninja has included several new characters for their players to use and guess what? Three of those characters were kawaii anime girls. The first new character was Momiji, a female ninja who sort of resembled Mai from KOF, but it all went downhill from there.

Marie Rose was introduced to Dead or Alive Ultimate as the shortest fighter in the series, standing in at only 4'10. Marie is childish and looks extremely younger than the age she was given. Her initial design was based on Gothic Lolita Fashion.

The next otaku fan service introduced in Dead or Alive 5: The Last Round was Honaka, a Japanese school girl whose default outfit consisted of a school blazer, she was also somewhat similar to Marie Rose in height. Now are you saying that Team Ninja couldn't come up with less generic characters, or are they are just catering to the moe crowd?

The King of Fighters XIV has a whooping 50 fighters to choose from but over half of those characters are kawaii anime girls. It's like game developers are running out of ideas or simply catering to a certain demographic. Other games like Guilty Gear XRD are slowing following suit with characters like Jam Kuradoberi and Elphelt Valentine.



The problem with all these cutesy anime archetypes is that they're very similar to each each other in not only appearance but also personality. If you look at all the latest Japanese fighting games out now, you're bound to see more than one anime girl. Where's the originality factor that older fighting games used to bring? That's the issue here.

The more kawaii characters we get is the less chance of a more original character concept pulling through. Just look at the mixed reactions to a character like Lucky Chloe and you should understand why it's beginning to become a problem.

Now you're probably thinking that if we didn't get the ' kawai animu girl' then game developers would opt for the generic tough guy, but why do fighting game fans have to settle for only two tv tropes? There should be a variety of different looking characters for players to choose.



Fighting games are over saturated with anime tropes that we've seen time and time again and they no longer add anything worthwhile to the genre. So would it hurt to see less of these cliché characters in favour of more fresh designs?

Now before you get in your feelings, in no way or form is this article bashing anime inspired female characters. One of the first kasg introduced to Tekken 3 was Xiaoyu, she was one of the best female newcomers. At the time it was refreshing to see a young female martial artist kick so much ass in a macho male dominated series.

She was the only school girl in Tekken 3 and as you can see, that game has debatably one of the best rosters of all time. There wasn't a need for two or more animu girls, the roster was in perfect ailment, leaving room for other character concepts that possibly wouldn't have seen the light of day this decade.



Again take a look at Tekken 7, the current roster isn't much to talk about and the veteran fighters appear to be getting replaced in droves. Lucky Chloe uses break dancing as a fighting style, which is similar to Eddy Gordo and Christie's capoeira. Meanwhile emotional Josie Rizal uses the same move set as Bruce Irvin, see a pattern forming yet?

Speaking of Josie, there's also controversy surrounding Tekken's first Filipino character. who is also named after one of Philippines national heroes José Rizal. Some fans don't feel that the character is fit to represent their nation in either her appearance or outfit.

Yeah it's Japan but if you're marketing a game towards a western audience, it's always best to diversify characters so you can attract more players. Japanese fighting games haven't been the same since their kasg compulsion. We single out Japanese games because western fighting franchises Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct don't have this issue.

What's your thoughts? Do you feel as though there's too many animu female characters been shoved down our throats to appease the moe/kawaii crowd, or rather do you find no issue with them? Let your feelings be known in the comment section.

Watch Dogs 2: Meet New Protagonist Marcus Holloway

June 10, 2016, 6:13 am

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Ubisoft Montreal is switching things up in Watch Dogs 2 and taking the second game to San Francisco which will focus on a brand new protagonist, one who's equipped with powerful computer-hacking skills that gives players fresh ways to explore and infiltrate the open world.

The first Watch Dogs' starred Aiden Pearce, an Irish-American who's task it was to hack and take down members of the organization who murdered his niece. Watch Dogs 2 on the other hand follows Marcus Holloway, a young African American originally from Oakland who becomes an expert hacker after being thrown in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

In time he is forced to join the underground hacker organization Deadsec, in a bid to clear his name while taking down the shady characters who use ctOS 2.0 technology to oppress the people of San Francisco, a system Marcus is determined to take offline for good.

Not only is Marcus able to hack the system but he also has other abilities which give players the chance to tackle the game in a number of ways. Not feeling confrontational? Then use Marcus' stealth skills to silently put down enemies with taser technology or you can go in guns blazing, Ubisoft has left it in your hands.



In the original game there were objections to Aiden Pearce being it's main protagonist as some people felt that the character was "boring" and generic, a statement that wasn't so far from the truth. Ubisoft took note and gave us Marcus, a younger, cooler and less grouchy hacktivist.

Aiden Pearce was meant to be the inclusive, cookie-cutter anonymous white man who people atypically associate with proficient hackers. That was his story and now it's a wrap. Marcus in comparison is the kind of social activist who appears tailor made for this era.

Some gamers seem to have a problem with Marcus on a personal level going by the comments left on the YouTube trailer, Steam forum and other online communities. Nearly every discussion featuring Watch Dogs 2 is about Marcus’ race or the way he dresses, labelling the character as nothing more than a shoehorned 'hipster.'



This isn't the first time a black character has caught flack for being introduced as the protagonist of a leading franchise. In 2004 when Rockstar Games first revealed Carl Johnson as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' main star, some gamers lost their shit.

This still happens even to this day. Recently, when EA revealed that their latest war game, “Battlefield 1” would take place in a World War I setting. The announcement was met with controversy because the character portrayed on the front cover was Black. Which goes to show gaming culture still has a race problem.

Either way we have to give it up to Ubisoft for going with something different this time round, rather than sticking to the same tired formula. Some might not want to hear the story Marcus has to tell, but it’s precisely the kind of story that major video game companies should be more of a spotlight to.

Mafia 3 Includes Racism As a Gameplay Mechanic

June 11, 2016, 12:58 pm

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2K Games and Hanger 13's upcoming title "Mafia III" features some intriguing gameplay elements that shed light on racism in America. Taking place during the 1960s, players take control of Lincoln Clay, a biracial Vietnam veteran soldier of African American descent
who has come back home after serving overseas.

Mafia 3's story has Lincoln seeking payback and retribution on the Italian Mafia for their involvement in the murders of his childhood friends. To enact revenge, Clay creates his own Mafia in hopes of getting revenge for his slain friends and creating a better life for himself.

For anyone who has played previous Mafia games, this doesn't stray far from the original formula and execution. However, this is the first time you'll be playing as a main protagonist who isn't of Italian descent. In Mafia and Mafia II you were in control of Italian-American mobsters but Mafia III gives fans a new and refreshing perspective.

For Hanger 13 this wasn't just a simple cosmetic change, creating a character of black descent in a sixties setting meant that the protagonist would have a different experience then that of a white character. As a consequence, the developers decided to make how NPCs and areas react to the main character’s skin colour a unique feature.



Haden Blackman and Harms, creative director and lead writer of Mafia 3 shared some insight with IGN of how they’re making Mafia III reverberate the racially tense period of the nineteen sixties:

"The behaviour of pedestrians and NPCs – certainly not everywhere throughout the game, but in large sections of it – there are places where if Lincoln looks out of place and seems out of place, people will react to that…There are places you can go that just being there is an offence and will elicit a police response.."

It’s an innovative and creative design component, one that could possibly open some eyes to the adversity that many people of colour face in their daily lives. Video games that star black protagonists usually avoid any racial issues but Mafia III isn't holding back. Racist slurs are also thrown at Lincoln, and black people will be harassed by cops in white areas.

Mafia III goes beyond the usual jaundiced treatment that comes into play when a player enters a distinctly flagged out-of-bounds region. As a story mechanic, it creates a strong compassion between the player and main character, especially someone who can relate
to Clay's woes.



Also the game brings into question the belief of police and civilian ingenuousness when prejudice beliefs consequence in negative treatment, even when the player might not be up to anything illegal. This is the charm to Mafia III that few other games can match. There's little sugar coating here, resulting in a more authentic narrative.

As Haden Blackman eludes to, if Mafia III can possibly change the way players think about privilege and make people even more empathic to those who have to encounter everyday racism, then the game will have met one of it's targets.

By setting the game during a period of social turbulence with a character who’s treated as a second-class citizen in a fictional take on New Orleans, Mafia III is destined to create a play space that’s simultaneously aggressive and engaging, and that truly is the perfect location for a blood-filled revenge story.

Has Sean Matsuda been Whitewashed in Street Fighter V?

June 12, 2016, 6:55 am

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Although at this present moment it's uncertain until the full game's release in February 16th, it appears as if Capcom has done the absolute unthinkable and apparently decided to whitewash Street Fighter's 3's Brazilian fighter Sean Matsuda.

He also happens be the younger sibling to Street Fighter V's Laura and we can't say we didn't see this coming, especially when you take into account how light his sister's skin tone is.

In Laura's comic book story art, the young brawler who was formerly dark skinned and had afro textured hair has appeared to have been given an extreme makeover, alas a race lift.
The once melanated hopeful martial artist student now seems to have been redesigned to unquestionably appear more caucasian, complete with straight, light brown/reddish hair and fair skin, he also happens to have a piece of tape plastered on his face which hides his nose.

Originally it appeared Sean was a black kid from New York who played basketball and took up an interest in Martial arts.

It's worth noting that all the the in-game art (including these story panels) were drawn by long-time Capcom illustrator Bengus, who's style rapidly changes with each iteration, nonetheless we highly doubt the veteran is colour blind nor senile and overall it's ultimately a bad look for both Bengus and Capcom if this is to be canonically Sean's new look.

Sean was originally depicted as a young black man with kinky hair. so suddenly we're to believe all this time he only had a tan and is actually a pale redhead? No.. Sean looked black in all three Street Fighter III games and this drastic change is totally uncalled for.

For Bengus to abruptly remove Sean's African genes and the part which made the character so charming and unique in the first place is unsatisfactory and shows the lack of investment from him into these characters, a lot of overall ignorance on his part no matter how "renowned" he is.

Sean's original character design in the Street Fighter III series

Originally it appeared Sean was a black kid from New York who played basketball and took up an interest in Martial arts, when Capcom decided to add Ken and Ryu to Street Fighter III, they changed Sean's nationality to Brazilian, which is why the radical transformation Sean has received is awful.

Everything about Sean's appearance screams "black shoto." Again let us remind you, he plays basketball, has a hi fade haircut with dreadlocks and his stage in Street Fighter New Generation was New York, Elena was in fact suppose to be the Brazilian character.

Whoever's job it was to write back stories for characters saw that and inexplicably decided for him to be "quarter Japanese Brazilian." Nobody could argue whether Sean was black before that SFV art, his race was obvious and was only in question due to his poorly planned backtory, never his design. Now though Bengus appears to have whitewashed him to oblivion.



While it's not known if Sean Matsuda's skin tone in Laura's comic book story art will be his finalized appearance yet or if he'll be be a future DLC character for SFV, nonetheless it's totally unacceptable in 2016 for characters to be getting whitewashed and changed so rapidly.

This isn't Capcom's first time race-swapping their characters either as it's happened several times in the series. The first racial change in the series happened to Birdie who used to be white but would later become black british. (The reason? He was supposedly 'ill' in the original Street Fighter which gave him pale skin).

Other race-swapping has occurred during the character's development, Street Fighter's III Urien was originally depicted as black man with an  large afro but his final design would have you think otherwise. More recently in Street Fighter IV, the Rufus we know today wasn't always fat nor caucasian.

In fact he was a bald and slender gi wearing African American martial artist with great potential called "King Cobra". Down the line though, his look was drastically changed and the result became Rufus.

The Solution 

It's pretty obvious as to what needs to be done to restore balance and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out, it's clear as day. The best thing for Capcom to do is restore Sean's complexion to his original skin tone in the Street Fighter III series and give him back his hi fade dreadlocks, There was no reason to change it in the first place, whether it be in art or cut-scenes.

If Capcom insist on keeping Sean pale then it should be in their best interest to debut a new black martial artist character, presumably from American or Africa, who isn't "quarter Japanese." Better yet debut Rufus's concept character King Cobra as a brand new character for Street Fighter V.

You have to admit there's been an absence of black martial artists in Street Fighter and fighting games as whole despite their long standing legacy and impact. Don't believe us then check out these 12 Legendary black martial arts masters.

Besides the Street Fighter series this isn't the first time that a character in fighting game has been whitewashed. Tanya in Mortal Kombat X was almost whitewashed, including several other black female characters. We shall keep this article updated as of to whether Sean has officially been whitewashed by Capcom in Street Fighter 5, in the mean time what are your thoughts?


Update (15/05/2016)



Laura's family tree has been revealed in Street Fighter V and yes we can confirm Sean Matsuda has been moderately and unsurprisingly whitewashed in Street Fighter V, in comparison to Street Fighter III: New Generation.

Ono Yoshinori and Capcom, was it too hard to give players a non-strerotypical dark-skinned black character who didn't box? Okay, Sean has indeed been hitting the bleach (although ironically SFV's timeline before SF III), there's no question behind it, but where's the alternate black martial fighter?

In Street Fighter V there's currently one black character, Birdie and Laura to a lesser extent, but where's the rest? If Capcom no longer want Sean to be a "brotha", then why not create a young black martial artist to take his spot, as stated above King Cobra would be perfect.


Update (12/06/2016)



Though it's still quite early to tell, it appears that Sean may have only been whitewashed in the artwork of SF5, since the Afro-Brazilian's look in the recent unveiling of Street Fighter V's story mode expansion appears to be more akin to his Street Fighter 3 days.

Amidst the major June update announcements that came out this past week, Capcom unveiled a couple new screenshots featuring scenes from the upcoming Story Mode Expansion, one of the screenshots revealed Sean and in addition he looks less pale.

Capcom appeared to have backpedalled on their decision in completely erasing Sean's blackness as evident in the story mode screenshot which sees the young Matsuda with darker skin, kinky hair and his signature basketball, a large improvement over the official SFV artwork, which had us questioning whether Sean was the latest victim of whitewashing.

Again it's still a little early to celebrate but if Sean does look like this in-game and cut scenes then we can sigh in relief, considering the fact that Sean's skintone and overall appearance in the artwork had him looking like the newest advocate of skin bleaching.

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Alex Hunter Is The Star In FIFA 17's New Story Mode

June 12, 2016, 6:12 pm

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It appears innovation has finally found the FIFA series with the unveiling of a new mode for FIFA 17 called "The Journey", a story mode where players take control of Alex Hunter, an upcoming rookie who is looking to make a name for himself in the English Premier League.

The previous FIFA games included 'Be A Pro' mode for a respective number of years which allowed players to control a single player on the pitch, but FIFA 17's new single player campaign, appears much more meaty and in-depth.

You follow Hunter through his football career and help him make some life changing decisions, including the club he will play for and the characters who he will interact with along the way, navigating the path of celebrity status that comes with being a big time player. Your performance on the pitch dictates the young lad's career and story.



Who exactly is Alex Hunter? According to EA, he’s a seventeen year old from Clapham in East London, touted from a young academy as it's next prospect. He lives, breathes
eats football and comes from a footballing family, so it's only natural that he was called up to play with the big boys.

Alex has evidently got tons of passion for the game, from the short scenes we've seen from story mode so far. He's not your common game protagonist and it's for certain a good thing. It's also a nice reflection of the diversity in the sport of football on average.

You could say that Alex's story is a reflection of young rising stars like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial who have been making a name for themselves on the pitch. Young players who are basically living what FIFA 17 is trying to embody with it's story mode The Journey. 

You'll guide Hunter along his path and without a doubt grow attached to this young prospect. It's also worth noting that Hunter will be limited to certain positions he can play, but you have a choice between striker, wide player and attacking midfielder.

There's an also an explanation as to why Alex isn't customizable. The choice was made because EA wants it's story mode to be authentic as possible and felt that gamers wouldn't care about a created player compared to an actual protagonist.

While it may seem odd for EA Sports to implement a story mode for FIFA, it's a feature that fans of the franchise have been asking for. EA themselves knew they needed a new mode and feedback from their players only solidified the deal.

Teenage Clementine Returns In The Walking Dead Season 3

June 12, 2016, 10:26 pm

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Clementine from Season 2 will make her return to the TellTale Games TWD video game series and puberty hit her like a truck. That's right, season three introduces players to a teenage Clementine. In Season 1 and 2 Clementine was an little innocent girl but her hormones have finally kicked in.

The decision to have Clementine grow up breathes fresh life into the lore and opens up a world of new possibilities. Although small Clementine will be dearly missed since we've gotten used to the little munch-kin, teenage Clementine is welcomed with open arms.

Many fans of the series have been asking to see a mature Clementine since 2014 with some people even predicting that she would return, and it looks like their wish was finally granted in Season 3, Clementine just got older and more badass.



Judging by Clemetine's age, there's been a time skip meaning that this game will take place several years after the events of Season 2. She was around 11 years old in Season 2 and looks to be a pre-teen in Season 3. 

Clementine is not alone as the teen is joined by a new protagonist in the franchise called Javier. Telltale's Job Stauffer confirmed that both characters will be playable and Javier is crucial to the story. She also appears to have been involved in a freak accident as her ring finger is missing and concealed with bandage aid.

Decisions players made in Season 2, specially the conclusion, will follow through and have some impact on Clementine’s persona, character and choices for Season 3. The game will premier this fall.

God of War: Christopher Judge Is The New Voice of Kratos

June 14, 2016, 11:08 pm

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The original voice actor for Kratos in God of War won't be returning to voice the Spartan warrior. Sony Monica has taken a new direction in casting actor Christopher Judge, who will take on the role of Kratos in Sony's God of War 4.

This comes as a surprising revelation to many fans of the GOW series, as Terrence C. Carson has been the voice of Kratos since God of War 1 (2005), until his final game, God of War: Ascension which released on PlayStation 3 in 2013. This is the first time Terrence Carson has not been cast as the Fallen God.

Christopher Judge, of course, is well known for his role as Teal'c from Stargate SG-1 but this isn't the first time Judge has voiced a video game character. Remember D-Mob from EA's Def Jam Vendetta? Judge provided his voice for the character in 2003. He was also the mouthpiece for Jericho in Turok (2008).

When God of War 4 was unveiled at Sony's E3 Conference, there was a lot of confusion as to why Kratos didn't sound like his usual self. In time people soon realised that Terrance was no longer the voice of Kratos.



Kratos is best-known for his voice and since his debut as a speaking character; Terrance’s execution is what made the character what it is. It is Terrance’s boisterous voice and distinct vocal mannerisms that has outlined the character of Kratos for all of the series’ western crowd.

To change this important facet of Kratos would be somewhat similar as if Naughty Dog was changing Nathan Drake’s voice in Uncharted 4 from Nolan North to Leonardo Dicaprio. So it's surprising that Sony Monica has gone in a completely new direction with Kratos, in not only appearance but also voice actor.

It's no secret that Terrance will be missed for his dedicated work of voicing Kratos for a decade and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Still, Sony Monica choosing Christopher Judge as the new voice actor for Kratos wasn't a bad idea in the slightest.

Judge has an amazing voice and hearing him portray older Kratos is very fitting

Judge has an amazing voice and hearing him portray older Kratos is very fitting, which is why we aren't surprised that Sony Monica went with Judge for their new GOW PlayStation 4 title. It was a great casting choice and Christopher Judge is the perfect fit for Kratos




TC Carston took to his twitter earlier this morning to let fans know that Sony had ultimately decided to go in a new direction with God of War 4 and this meant that Carston wasn't returning to his leading role as Kratos.

Right from the beginning, it was evident that this was going to be a different God of War game. What do you think of Christopher Judge as the new voice of Kratos? Do you think he'll do a better job than Terrance Carson? Let us know in the comments below.

Street Fighter: The Evolution of Balrog

June 16, 2016, 2:40 am

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In 1991 Capcom created Street Fighter II, the game has a variety of fighters from around the world, three of whom were from the United States of America. One of them was an African American boxer named Balrog, who is called Mike Bison in the Japanese version.

Balrog has become a staple part of the series, not far behind other recognizable and mainstay characters such as Ryu, Chun Li, Ken and Guile. Once a Mike Tyson doppelgänger, over time Balrog has been given his own individuality.

The bulky boxer with his signature blue trunks and red boxing gloves, like Ryu are the heart and soul of Street Fighter. His raw strength and punching quickness seemingly the same today as when he first appeared in the series' second entry. Like Street Fighter though, Balrog has changed and evolved over the years.



Street Fighter II (1991)

The boxer made his debut in Street Fighter 2, originally as a Mike Tyson clone and non-playable character. It wouldn't be until later, beginning with Street Fighter II: Champion Edition that Balrog would become a playable character.

Balrog is portrayed as an aggressive, intimidating boxer who is seeking the "American Dream" and working for M.Bison's Shadaloo cult to achieve this. Balrog holds the title for being the first playable boxer and second black character to appear in the series.



Street Fighter Alpha III (1998)



It wouldn't be until several years later in 1998 that Balrog would appear in the third instalment of Street Alpha after having been absent from the first two games. Balrog was back and meaner than ever. Still rocking his signature blue boxing attire and red gloves.

Although Balrog was gradually coming into his own character, this was the closest that Balrog came to emulating Mike Tyson's personality and mannerisms. One of his win quotes references when Mike Tyson bites Evan Holyfield's ear clean off. "If you fight like that again, I'll bite your ear off!"



Capcom Vs SNK (2000)



Balrog would manage to make it onto the roster of the Capcom Vs SNK fighting game series. His appearance was akin to his Street Fighter Alpha III design, only he was darker in complexion. While his character portrait made him look goofy, Balrog was far from a joke character.


SNK Vs Capcom: SVC Chaos (2003)

Balrog also appeared in SNK Vs Capcom Chaos. Unlike the Capcom VS SNK series which Capcom developers made, SvC was developed by SNK-Playmore. In this game Balrog was lighter in hue, especially in his portrait photo. Boxer's in game model also looked better than Capcom vs SNK's version.


Street Fighter IV (2008)



Skipping Street Fighter III, Balrog would make his long awaited return in Street Fighter IV, returning to his role as one of M.Bison's henchmen. Street Fighter 4 both revitalized the franchise and gave Balrog his first respectable debut in 3D.

Capcom's portrayal of Balrog in SFIV was as stereotypical and buffoonish as you'd expect them to make him, but there was a certain charm to Balrog that the earlier games hadn't been able to capture in 2D.



Street Fighter X Tekken (2012)



Balrog would be one of the 27 capcom characters to feature in Street Fighter X Tekken, a tag team crossover fighting game which pit the fighters of Street Fighter against Bandai Namco's Tekken characters. His partner in the game was Vega while their rivals were Raven and Yoshimistu.


Street Fighter V (2016)

Twenty something years after his debut appearance, Balrog finally gets a praise worthy design in Street Fighter 5. This isn't a half-assed look either, it is full on "I'm gonna kick your ass". Balrog now rocks a thick gold chain around his neck, a hoodie with shredded arms and shows of his rock solid abs.

It appears Balrog has retired his default blue boxing attire for a more stylish yet intimidating look. Not only that but Balrog appears to have been hitting the gym (or roids) as he's much bulker in SFV. We gotta give credit to Capcom for making him look so badass.

10 Things You Can Do In The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

June 17, 2016, 7:14 am

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After several years of knowing naught about the new Zelda game, Nintendo finally
showed off The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during E3 2016, giving fans a
look at the game in motion. It wasn't only a thirty second trailer or brief gameplay
demo.

We were treated to over five hours of the game's open-world venture. In that time,
we got plenty of info on how Breath of the Wild's new gameplay mechanics break
the traditionalistic customs of the Zelda franchise. Here's ten things Link can do in the Breath of the Wild.



Swap Clothes

Speaking of breaking customs, not a single moment has Link been shown wearing his traditional green tunic and pointy hat, but there's a valid explanation for the wardrobe change. Breath of the Wild includes a loot scheme that allows Link to gather different
sets of clothing and equipment.

It seems that everything from dirty torn rags to full suits of plate armour can be found
in the world and equipped for improved stats. Link's power will be largely determined
by what you're wearing and which weapons you have equipped.

Pick up Weapons

Traditional Zelda weapons like bombs, bow, sword and shield return but not in
the conventional way. Your swords, shields, and bows come in a wide variety
that can be obtained by taking down enemies or stealing from treasure chests.

So you won't be given a specialized shield or pull a fabled blade out of a supernatural
pedestal to be used throughout the entire game. Rather, you'll have to regularly switch around your weapons, because sooner or later they'll wear down and break.


Slow-mo Mode

Link can activate Flurry Rush mode whenever he successfully executes a perfect dodge. When this occurs, everything around Link becomes slow-mo, giving him the opportunity to perform rapid attacks that do great damage .

Link can also trigger off the slow-motion mode by leaping into the air and aiming his bow, much like what appeared in the early demo with Link vaulting off his horse. This unique aiming ability gives players loads of time to line up a shot before falling back down on
the ground.

Cook Meals

Before you venture into the massive field on a grand escapade, it's a keen idea to
be prepared. Link is no longer able to collect floating hearts, rupees, and other items
by slicing grass. Alternatively, he actually has to consume food to recover health
and exchange items for money, putting a restraint on his hardened landscaping skills.

In order to obtain powerful healing items, you'll have to find ingredients like animal flesh, vegetables and even bugs, then roast them over a fire to create health-refilling meals,
stat-raising elixirs or spicy nutrients that make you exempt to the game's freezing
weather conditions.



Explore Shrines

It wouldn't be Zelda without puzzle-filled labyrinths. In Breath of the Wild there are ample sized dungeons overflowing with puzzles, enemies and bosses, but besides this there's also smaller dungeons called Shrines.

Entering a Shrine from the main world will transport you to a Sheikah trial created by one of the mystical order monks. Fundamentally, the early shrines are a fanciful way of teaching you the basic fundamentals of the game, without all those prolonged speech bubbles.


Use An Tablet…Sort Of

Link obtains a new device called the Sheikah Slate. It’s evidently not an tablet, but Zelda's producer Eiji Aonuma has defined it as a kind of technology and suggested that technology is the replacement to magic in terms of importance and relevancy. 

In terms of gameplay, the Sheikah Slate is where Link will handle and seek out his inventory, world map and quests. From a thematic outlook however, the enmity between technology and nature looks to be a crucial theme to Breath of the Wild.




Manipulate fire

From starting camp fires to setting things on fire, Breath of the Wild serves up a ton
of the hot stuff. Link can set alight grass and watch gusts of wind spread the flames
towards explosive barrels, which go out with a bang. 

Fire is also a pretty useful technique in dealing with and defending yourself against relentless enemies. Like previous games, flames can interact with certain weapons
in your inventory like bows and bombs. You also can burn down wooden doors
which block the entry to hidden areas in the game.  



Climb Almost Anything 

Nintendo has taken another leaf out of Ubisoft's notebook by adding a robust climbing system to Breath of the Wild. Just like Assassin’s Creed, this means that if it isn't level
and smooth, Link can climb it. So buildings and mountainsides can be climbed onto.

Still, it must also be known that climbing consumes your green stamina bar, so you won't be able to do it indefinitely. As stated Link can scale just about any unsmooth surface in the game, and that also applies to enemies.




Sneak Around

Previous Zelda games allowed you to sneak around, but Breath of the Wild takes it to a whole another level. For instance, you’ll want to conceal yourself in grass and crouch-walk to take out enemies/animals by surprise. The game also gives you a one-button kill opportunity when an unmindful creature is standing beside you.

As for enemy AI, they’ll promptly rush for their weapons when you intrude on their camp (no mysteriously poofing weapons out of thin air here). If they don’t have access to
weapons then they’ll toss stones/rocks at you or just use their hands for close range combat.



Beat The Game Without Playing It's Story. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild includes a monolithic open world that is just waiting to be explored in a number of different ways. Eiji Aonuma confirmed that players can reach the game's end content without experiencing BOTW's integral story.

Aonuma also said that players will have the chance to take on the game's final boss instantly after the opening cutscene, but was sure to point out that he doesn't commend
this method to players looking for the overall best experience.

Mirror's Edge Catalyst: Meet Hacker Girl Plastic

June 19, 2016, 4:53 am

≫ Next: 10 Things You Can Do In Final Fantasy XV

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EA Dice have been on a role lately and it's reflecting in their games, one in particular, Mirror's Edge Catalyst. The game has a diverse cast of characters who each add
something unique to the game's story. Besides main protagonist Faith, one of the
female characters who stick out the most is hacker girl Plastic.

Video games are not known for having a diverse representation of hackers. The film
and gaming industry sends the clear message to POC that they can't be hackers,
or are at least not expected to be. Designing hackers to be mainly white leaves
black characters out of the picture, which is why Plastic was a pleasant surprise.

Faith was assigned on a mission to seek out the mysterious “Plastic,” and surprisingly, Plastic turned out to be a black woman voiced by actress Ozioma Akagha. All Faith
initially knew about Plastic was that this person was a technical mastermind who
could be a strong ally for her group the Runners.

Plastic isn't the most social individual and prefers to isolate herself from other humans
by communicating through The Beat, a network database. Taking on only the most
expert tech assignments at hand, her hacking services don't come cheap either.



Despite the reinforcement of some stereotypes, it was nice to see Plastic on screen, hacking and saving the day with her technological abilities. It was also good that
the game didn't pair her off as one of the male characters’ love interest. She stood
on her own as the technical mastermind who assisted the main character in coding.

Media representation of black women is often reserved for roles like modern Jezebel, gold digger, or angry black woman. Plastic's character in Mirror's Edge doeat first s not fall into any of these categories. It was very refreshing to see a black woman depicting a different image than what the media usually portrays.

It means the world to see a video game character like Plastic and know that millions of other players have the chance to see a black female being ingenious, down to earth and just plain badass. On a side note it would have been nice to see Plastic wearing her natural hair, but that's another issue.

We know that some people playing would have never thought “black woman” and "hacker" could be in the same sentence, but although a minor character, Plastic tackles the perceived norm and brings focus to the fact that anybody can be a hacker.

10 Things You Can Do In Final Fantasy XV

June 21, 2016, 6:30 am

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Final Fantasy 15 is at long last free from Square Enix's vault and is releasing this year on September 30th. After it's age-long development, seeing a release date for a game that fans have been waiting almost 10 years for is a massive relief.

Eager on breaking series tradition once more, the largest name in JRPGs is going in a new direction while at the same time playing its core strengths. This aspirant new instalment has an enthusiast, grand world to explore, tons of sidequests to try, a fresh real-time battle system and some of the most breathtaking vistas we've bared witness to this console gen.

Despite the main characters lack of diversity. Each party member has specific hobbies, personality quirks, and skills that play into the larger game. Not only that but there's lots
to see and do in FFXV’s large open world. Meaning while playing, you won't be bored
for long. Here's 10 things you can do in Final Fantasy XV.




Explore the Massive Open World

There's a reason why the car plays a fundamental part, Final Fantasy XV's world is huge and there's so much places to travel and explore at your leisure. This game is all about exploration and you won’t be locked away from the vibrant kingdom for too long. FFXV
is massive and gives you the chance to explore cities, towns, old ruins and much more.

It’s quite reminiscent of the aged, divine overworld maps in earlier Final Fantasy games, only this time it’s in glorious 3D. Unlike previous Final Fantasy games which kept you locked within towns or hubs for the opening segment, FFXV gives you near free reign from the jump off. 



Drive and Cruise 

FFXV's driving feature allows players to travel to explore the massive world on wheels . Players have the choice of either automatic or manual controls. Automatic lets Ignis cruise around to marked locations as Noctis takes in the view and makes idle chatter with Gladius, Prompto and Ignis.

On the other hand Manual settings gives players the option to control the Regalia themselves, players should notice a gasoline marker is present on the screen. The gasoline icon indicates how much fuel is being used when driving the car. Like a real car, the Regalia will sooner or later lose gas and you will have to refill it at a nearby gas station.



Side Quests 

Noctis and his friends will encounter all kinds of people along their journey in no shortage of help, and they all have fat pockets. There's different kinds of quests to partake in including main story, monster hunts and regional quests. There are over 200 quests in the game and counting.


Square Enix has to make sure they ship a title which is capable of meeting people’s expectations when it comes to how many hours we’ll be playing it. According to the director Tabata, there around 100 hours of extra content from the side-quests and extra missions/NPC’s requests.





Fly an Airship

Airships have been a signature component of the Final Fantasy franchise since the first game. However, Final Fantasy IX was the final mainline entry that allowed you to fly around the world yourself; the latest trend is for airships to function as fast-travel hubs. That’s has changed in Final Fantasy 15, which puts players behind the pilot’s wheel.

As exciting as it may be to soar through the skies, don’t expect to get your airship easily
or early. You will receive the flying Regalia near the end of the game as an extra challenge confirmed Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata.



Learn New Abilities

FFXV will have a skill tree set up so Noctis and crew can learn new skills. As each character levels up they’ll open up joint abilities through a kind of skill tree system. The player can activate these abilities.

After every level up, Ignis, Gladio, Prompto, and Noctis will each acquire an Ability point. Ability points can be used on new unlockable skills as well as passive incentives like boosting your auto-dodge ability.



Camp

FF15 has a unsubtle transition from day to night, and you're encouraged through speech prompts to get Noctis and his crew back to camp once nightfall rolls around. There's no particular penalty for keeping the characters out beyond their sleeping hours, but battles do get observably harder.

In addition to keeping Noctis and his gang from being gnawed on by vicious creatures of the night, allowing them to set up camp and eat a meal gives each character a number of stat buffs that persist throughout the next day, making fights far easier.





Use Stealth Tactics

Unlike previous Final Fantasy games where combat is usually mandatory upon encounter, in Final Fantasy XV you don't always have to tackle the enemy head on. If you feel like taking things a little slower and ambushing your foe from behind, then that's an option too.

For example, Noctis can use his teleportation ability, which acts as a stunning ultra-stab
in battle to teleport up to unaware enemies and take down out.FFXV takes on a very earnest Metal Gear Solid tone during it's stealth segments.



Summon Gigantic Beasts

This wouldn't be a true Final Fantasy without summons and on that frontal, FF15 goes large. Really large. So big that Noctis rests in the the palm of his summon's hand while the beast blasts away hapless enemies with an atmosphere-puncturing eruption.

Unfortunately, you won't get to use these summons too often and they can't be called upon at will. Unlike previous games in the series that allowed you to call upon your mystical creature anything you were in a jam, this time your health has to reach zero before you can unleash the beast.



Play Minigames

Like previous games minigames make their return, although this time it's pinball and fishing that players can try their hands at, instead of Blitzball or card games. Justice Monsters V is the name of the pinball minigame which you'll be able to play at tables in different rest stops on your trip.

Fishing is also not only a reposeful way to pass time in between realm-saving heroics,
you’ll also be able to have a fish meal, as Ignis can use whatever you catch as cooking ingredients for your evening meal. 



Ride Chocobos 

In Final Fantasy XV travelling isn't only limited to car or foot. You can also ride Chocobos and make those large birds drift. Chocobo riding is a popular and traditional series' feature and it returns in Final Fantasy XV.

When riding a Chocobo, Noctis can make it walk, sprint, and leap to reach higher places that players wouldn't be able to reach on foot. Chocobos will also exist throughout Final Fantasy XV's world, and there will be a variety of activities involving Chocobos available.

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Tekken 7: Fated Retribution Adds New Character Master Raven

July 17, 2016, 10:23 pm

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Fans of the Tekken series noticed the absent of black characters in Tekken 7 since the game's announcement in 2014. All the iconic fighters such as the Mishima Clan, Yoshimistu, Marshall Law and several brand new characters have been revealed as playable characters but noticeably none of the Tekken's black characters have returned.

Veterans like Bruce Irvin and Marduk have ultimately been replaced by brand new fighters while the fate of other characters such as Eddy Gordo, Christie Monteiro and Raven are currently unknown. This meant Tekken 7's roster was void of black characters, that was until today when Master Raven was revealed, Tekken 7's first official black female character.

The producer of Tekken Katsuhiro Harada announced the female ninja for Tekken 7: Fated Retribution at Evo 2016 alongside Bob, a returning character who made his debut in Tekken 6. Not much is known about Master Raven, but it's safe to assume she shares history with Raven although it's not clear what the relationship between the two is.

Like the original Raven, Master Raven has a ninjutsu fighting style which could possibly mean she's taking Raven's character slot, unless the two will share a Christie/Eddy relationship with similar move sets.

We honestly thought that Tekken was losing it's touch but Bandai Namco have proved us wrong by introducing a unique female character who isn't oversexualised or Kawaii, and the best part? She's black. With the shortage of black female characters in fighting games this isn't only a pleasant surprise but also a huge landmark for the genre on a whole.



Fans had been complaining about the kawaii anime girls which were overpopulating the roster but deep down we were certain that Bandai Namco was cooking up something special and they didn't disappoint with the reveal of Master Raven.

Why is this character so important? Again it's because of the lack of black women fighters
in fighting games, since the birth of the genre there's been under 15 playable female characters who were black. Most of these female characters are light and ambiguous,
while at least two have been victims of whitewashing.

The great thing about Master Raven is that she isn't ambiguous or extremely light like the other black female fighters and she has her natural hair in tact, did we mention she also
isn't oversexualized? All this makes for a well rounded female character design that isn't stale or generic.

Master Raven is like a throwback to Vanessa from Virtual Fighter 4 before Sega AM2 butchered her character in VF5, a strong woman who has a aggressive fighting style
and doesn't hold back. A refreshing change from Tekken's animu female characters.

Yeah Namco Bandai could have gone with something different in regards to Master Raven's fighting style and and name but we aren't complaining. A character like this is what the Tekken 7 series was severely missing and Namco Bandai finally delivered.

Why Sazh deserves a spot in Dissidia Final Fantasy

August 12, 2016, 4:32 am

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It's been a rocky ride for Sazh Katzroy ever since his debut appearance in Final Fantasy XIII. A character who many felt was likeable, charismatic and realistic with solid character development. Likewise Sazh has also met his fair share of negative criticism but regardless of one's opinion, no one can deny that his character is one of a kind.

Which is why he would be the perfect choice for Dissidia Final Fantasy as a brand new character and Final Fantasy XIII rep alongside Lightning. Whether you'd like to admit it
or not, Sazh was one of the most distinctive looking characters in the Final Fantasy XIII universe.

Team Ninja is said to be in charge of the roster which could spell trouble for a character like Sazh as TN hadn't handled racial diversity or character choices too well in the past. Just take a look at the current state of their own fighting game Dead or Alive 5 or some of the amazing characters which never made the cut in Hyrule Warriors.

Still there could be hope as the developers have said that their goal is to add over 50 characters to the final game, so surely there's a place for the lovable gun toting cool dad Sazh in SE's reverting fighting game series.

In a past interview, Tetsuya Nomura stated that he would have chosen Sazh over Lightning to appear in a sequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy to represent Final Fantasy XIII. Unfortunately this never came to fruition as Lightning was selected as the Final Fantasy XIII representative for the prequel game, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.

Now with 50 characters debuting in the third instalment of Dissidia this would be the perfect opportunity for Sazh to make his grand debut. When you look back at the previous roster racial diversity wasn't taken into consideration, which came as a disappointment as the franchise has produced several well renown black characters.

Racial diversity isn't Final Fantasy's strong suit but you can't ignore the stellar black characters and other characters of colour who stick out for their unique designs.
It's pretty noticeable when a game like Dissidia doesn't debut a single one of those characters to be playable in a popular spin-off title with a decent sized roster.

In 2012 Japanese users on the official Final Fantasy forums had the chance to vote for their favourite male characters and Sazh ranked at 32, beating the Final Fantasy XIII poster boy Snow Villiers. It's worth noting that Sazh was the only character of colour listed, other characters like Barret, Wakka and Kiros didn't rank.



This gives an indication that while Sazh isn't the most popular character in Japan, he also isn't an afterthought. Regardless, Japan isn't the only market that Square Enix should be catering to. If SE want to attract the western audience then it would be only be right to focus on them too, right?

A character like Sazh breaks the mold of cliche Japanese characters and gives the game some much needed diversity that the two previous entries was painfully missing. It's no secret that Sazh is well liked in the west and if Square Enix want to attract more western players than introducing a character like Katzroy is a great way to achieve this. 

This wouldn't be the first time that Sazh has appeared in a spin-off title outside the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy. He has made playable appearances in several iOS and Android Final Fantasy games. Dissidia Final Fantasy would be the right time to bring back Sazh for a respectable spin-off title that doesn't involve cards.

What's your opinion, do you want to see Sazh in Dissidia Final Fantasy or would you rather another Final Fantasy character take helm. Let us know which character of colour you'd like to see make it as a playable character onto the roster in the comment section below.

On Nintendo and Limited Character Customization

August 22, 2016, 2:38 pm

≫ Next: Kingdom Hearts has a Race Problem

≪ Previous: Why Sazh deserves a spot in Dissidia Final Fantasy

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Nintendo has often been accused of been stuck in the past and this isn't so far from truth when you realise you can barely customise your blank state avatar, and it's been an issue in several of their biggest games to date.

Nintendo's approach to character customization is unusual, they put unreasonable restrictions on avatars that shouldn't exist. Successful character customisation gives
you full control over your created character, whether it be their skin tone, hair or facial features.

Take Animal Crossing, at heart it's a game that's all about personal identity, customisation and self expression, yet it wasn't until Nintendo introduced the spin-off title Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer in 2015 that you could be black or dark skin. The series has been live and kicking since 2001.

Beforehand their only remedy for players who wanted to be dark skinned was for them to bake their character in the sun. To make matters worse the tan would eventually wear off and your character's complexion would return to their default skin tone.



Another strange feature in the series was the inability to choose your facial features and hairstyle at the beginning of each game. Instead the player's aesthetic were determined by
a series of questions. Thankfully in the spin-off title this was dropped and players can now select their own facial features and hair.

Keep in mind that the game's primary focus is centred around character customisation and personification, yet these strange limitations existed for no other reason than to seemingly limit the player's avatar expression. A game like Animal crossing should have offered full character customisation right from the beginning.

In 2013 Game Freak and Nintendo took the Pokemon world by allowing players to customise their Pokemon trainer in Pokemon X/Y. To any casual gamer this wasn't such a big deal but for many Nintendo fans this was finally a dream come true.

Still, compared to other character customisation games outside of Nintendo it was pretty limited. It would take Game Freak over 19 years to implement trainer customisation, a feature fans of the series were asking the game developers over a decade for.

"It would take Game Freak over 19 years to implement trainer customisation"

Even so you still can't choose your skin tone outside of the preset colours that Game Freak pick and you can't change your face. The feature was even removed from the Pokemon Oras remake but fortunately would return in Pokemon Sun and Moon with a new dark skin tone, though it appears the ability to change your hairstyle was dropped in the process. 

For an Nintendo game, Pokken Tournament's avatar customisation is very in-depth and shows that the company is at least trying. Unlike the mainline games which are created by Game Freak, Pokken Tournament is in fact developed by Bandai Namco Studios, which possibly explains the vast amount of avatar customisation available. 

Fire Emblem Fates allows you to customise two established characters, Corrin and Robin. You can change their hairstyle and facial features but unsurprisingly players who want to make their avatar black have been given the shaft once more.

The thing is Fire Emblem has featured dark skin characters in previous games so the logic for leaving out skin tone options doesn't make any sense. Excluding such a feature only alienates players who want their character to be of a darker hue and sends the message that that Nintendo never had them in mind.



The Legend of Zelda series hasn't ever included character customisation until Wii U's Breath of The Wild, only fans who were hoping to customise Link beyond his armour and clothes are in for a shocking revelation.

A series like The Legend of Zelda would benefit from character customisation, after all the main character Link is suppose to represent the player, a direct quote from the creator himself Eiji Aonuma.

Yet Link still only represents a minority of players in appearance. Many fans of the series claim it would ruin Link's character but Link is a different entity in each game and is little more than a blank slate.

You would think by now they'd at each implement a character customisation with skin and gender options. Yes over time The Hero of Time's green tunic and grunts have become iconic but his accepted image could always be used as the default preset for merchandise, media and spin-off appearances in Smash Bros.

Including an optional character customisation takes nothing away from fans or the character itself. If established characters from Fire Emblem like Corin and Robin can be customised, why can't a blank slate like Link?



On the other hand other Nintendo games such as Xenoblade Chronicles X, Splatoon and Pokken Tournament have managed to handle Character customisation somewhat better but they are still far from perfect.

This isn't about singling out Nintendo but rather wanting to see them diversify their character customisation options so players have more options to choose from. Nintendo release their games throughout the entire world and this should reflect in their games.


The Solution 

It's all well addressing the issues with Nintendo's approach to their avatar customisation but a solution to the problem isn't something that only Nintendo has to figure out, besides it's clear as night and day.

The solution to Nintendo's limited character customisation is simple, more equals better. A choice to change your skin tone with a diverse selection of colours would make a world of difference and should be mandatory in every game that includes character customisation.

Second of all, a wide selection of hairstyles to choose from would be the next step after skin tone so avatars can stand out and players can feel a better connection to their created character.

"The solution to Nintendo's limited character customisation is simple, more equals better."

Facial features is another option which is normally neglected by Nintendo which has player avatars looking like mere clones. An option to choose from a variety of different eyes, mouth and noses would vastly improve the avatar's individuality.

These are the basic necessities for a character creation mode that wants to entice and draw in the player, without these features then it's going to feel very bare bones. What's your stance on Nintendo and their Character customisation? Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section.

Kingdom Hearts has a Race Problem

December 22, 2016, 12:31 pm

≫ Next: Top 10 Black Video Game characters of 2016

≪ Previous: On Nintendo and Limited Character Customization

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It’s a controversial topic that's being lingering around the Kingdom Hearts series ever since Square Enix's action role-playing game received a sequel in 2005 and gained mass appeal. The question at hand? "Where are the black characters in Kingdom Hearts?"

That's a very good question, particularly when you study the various npcs in the series, from Final Fantasy and Disney's cast of iconic characters to the series original Kingdom Heart's characters such as the nobodies and numerous citizens.

Kingdom Hearts—one of the most popular videos games—centers on a monolithic cast of predominantly fair skinned characters. While the game has improved its representation in the second game, its racial diversity doesn't extend to neither dark skinned protagonists nor black characters, so we ask is there really nothing the creators can do about that?

While Final Fantasy hasn't featured a lot of black characters, let's not play ignorant and pretend that they're non-existent. Same with Disney, who have had it's own share of black characters, even to eventually create a black princess in Tiana from the Princess and the Frog in 2009.



The closest that the kingdom Hearts series has gotten to a main dark skin character is Ansem, an ambiguously brown man who also happens to be the primary antagonist in several of the games, most notably Kingdom Hearts 1.

In Kingdom Heart 2 there was a mysterious man called DiZ who some believed to be possibly black due to his red mummy-like bandages revealing dark skin, but disappointment would soon set in for players who finally thought that the series had debut it's first black character.

DiZ was in fact revealed to be Ansem the Wise under the mummy inspired disguise, a middle aged man with blonde hair and light skin. The dark skin seemingly evaporated into the ether. Meaning that DiZ was not black but another light skinned character to add to the list.



Outside of Disney's Aladdin, the only tanned characters that exist within the series who aren't evil are the pre-designed Disney citizens who inhabit the city of Agrabah, a world based on Disney's 1992 film Aladdin, let that skin in.

It's not to say that the developers hasn't had a chance to implement black characters into the series. There's been a lot of chances which ended up not happening for reasons unknown, despite making sense and giving way for more needed diversity. Quite a few come to mind in fact, starting with Disney.

Hercules plays a vital role in the Kingdom Hearts series and many characters from the animated feature appear in the game, yet the only black characters in the entire film are given the shaft. We're talking about the Muses, five beautiful sistas who are supporting characters in Hercules, they sing a majority of the songs involved in the movie.



Yet they seldom make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts. The Muses would be perfect for Kingdom Hearts and before you ask how, it's simple really. As goddesses, the Muses possess the natural powers and abilities of Olympian deities.

There's many ways that Square Enix could implement the Muses and one way could be through a summon. As a matter of fact a Muse summon wouldn't be a bad idea for Kingdom Hearts 3. For those new to the series, a Summon is a special character that can be magically called upon to help Sora and his companions.

Barret makes a cameo in Kingdom Hearts, though only in namesake. Unlike many of the other Final Fantasy characters VII who appear in the flesh and compliment the main story. A missed possibility to create racial diversity within the Final Fantasy line up.

In Kingdom Hearts II, a shopkeeper called "Wallace" appears in Twilight Town alongside Biggs, Wedge and Jessie. Much like the other characters his design is different from his namesake, his being the most extreme as Wallace is white instead of black and tubby instead of muscular.



Was this a missed opportunity to include a black npc? Pretty much. Though not a big loss it wouldn't have hurt to at least made Wallace in more likeness to his dark skin counterpart or better yet race lift one of the other avalanche members.

The disappointment set in when it was realised that Wallace was suppose to be a reference to Barret Wallace, yet he was pale in complexion and shared nothing in common with the avalanche leader besides his last name. Kingdom Hearts has seen it's highest sales from North America, with a staggering 3.0 millions players.

 Amongst those fans, many of them happen to be black, there's no doubting that. So for a large diverse setting like Kingdom Hearts to have zero black characters is disappointing to say the least.

"Wait but Square Enix is a Japanese game developer and there's hardly any black people in Japan." Let's not, it matters not whether Square Enix is a Japanese company as they cater not only to the East but also to the West where they see most of their sales.



Besides Square Enix hasn't been one to shy away from creating black characters in the past, as previously stated. Just take games like Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy XIII which feature a playable black party member.

The world of Kingdom Hearts is beaming with life and it really captures the charm of Disney and Final Fantasy. The world is full of characters new and old, each with their own unique designs. Which is why it was unsatisfactory that not a single one of those characters happened to be black when Kingdom Hearts sees most sales from the west.

Take for example Organisation XIII, a group of almighty Nobodies who claim to seek to regain their hearts and become whole again. Thirteen characters all unique in their personalities, vibrant hairstyles and gender, but that's where the line is drawn.

A missed chance, but racially diversifying Organisation XIII would have shown that the developers was thinking outside the box and not playing it safe. Thinking about their players who ain't represented in the game. There's thirteen characters and all of them are pale.



This wouldn't even as much as an issue if the game had existing black characters in at least semi important roles but that's the thing it doesn't and it unforgettably rings bells. Almost every other race has been represented in Kingdom Hearts yet black characters appear to have not been considered at all.

Let's play devil's advocate, maybe Square Enix didn't know how to implement said race into the series or maybe there were limitations, still it's not a good enough excuse as to why there isn't a single black character in the entire series since the game's debut in 2002.

By excluding black characters in Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix sends the message that black characters can't exist in a fantasy world or ain't important enough to include and we're sure this isn't the message that SE wants to deliver, especially since it has a strong following in the west.

Again what message does it send when a large fantasy world such as Kingdom Hearts, with an abundant of charming characters doesn't feature a single black character. We shouldn't have to make this article for such a beloved series but it has to be said, even if no one wants to admit or acknowledge it.



This would be the perfect opportunity for Square Enix to finally add some black characters from both Disney and Final Fantasy to Kingdom Hearts 3. Let's not stop there, even an original Kingdom Hearts character wouldn't hurt.

Although the racial diversity in Final Fantasy XV's main cast was non-existent, there were three black characters in the game you could accept quests from, including a black female character called Sania.

We'd expected a black male npc at some point but Sania was a pleasant surprise and we applaud Square Enix for creating her. Now if only they could do this for their other video game franchises, Kingdom Hearts included.

Now although different series, it's still the game company and there's no reason why Kingdom Hearts can't be as diverse as Final Fantasy XV especially when most of it's sale come from the west.


The Solution

Although not a lot, Final Fantasy has quite a few black characters and a character like Sazh Katzroy or Barret Wallace wouldn't be out of place in a massive and enchanted world such as Kingdom Hearts.

Better still, step out the comfort zone and include a new original black Kingdom Hearts character who's a keyblade Wieder (as Riku and Mickey Mouse are searching for Keyblade Wielders.) A noble gesture like this would show that Square Enix is thinking about all it's fansbase. 

Meanwhile the princess and the frog saw it's first black princess, Tiana would be a nice edition to Kingdom Hearts world. You see both Disney and Final Fantasy have some worthy choices. Let's not forget that seeing as Disney also owns Stars Wars and Marvel, this opens up the possibilities for even more characters.



Since Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 missed the mark then Kingdom Hearts 3 would be the perfect chance for Square Enix to implement said black characters who were missing from the first two games.

We have faith that Square Enix can do the right thing and include these characters and more, seeing as their record for including dark skin and black characters be they npcs usually hold up well in the Final Fantasy series.

Let's see how many black characters that would be a perfect fit for the Kingdom Hearts series shall we? If you have any suggestions feel free to write down the character in the comment section.

Disney                                     

Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)                                                            
Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
Iridessa (Tinkerbell)
Muses (Hercules)
Cobra Bubbles (Lilo and Stitch)
Wasabi (Big Hero 6)
John Henry (John Henry)
Cutler (Tron: Uprising)
Vince LaSalle (Recess)
Nick Fury (Marvel)
Black Panther (Marvel)
Storm (Marvel)
Miles Morales (Marvel)
Blade (Marvel)
Finn (Star Wars)

(See black Final Fantasy characters)

We kind of went over board but majority of these characters would fit right in with the Kingdom Hearts crew, can you imagine Sora going head to head with Black Panther or racing Vince Laselle around an obstacle course? Then you've got the right idea.

Obviously most of these character's choices are very slim but then again you never know, again we ask you which characters would you like to see appear in Kingdom Hearts 3, let us know your thoughts on the matter as well.

It's worth noting that Big 6 Hero is going to be one of the worlds Sora visits in Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix revealed this information at the D23 expo in 2015, so the chances of seeing Wasabi in KH3 are somewhat higher than the rest on the list.

Top 10 Black Video Game characters of 2016

December 28, 2016, 11:36 am

≫ Next: Nintendo's Racial Diversity is Refreshing

≪ Previous: Kingdom Hearts has a Race Problem

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Who'd thought we'd be able to find several black video game characters who are the main protagonists of their respective games? That's how it's been in 2016. This year has been one of the strongest years for racial diversity and has opened the floodgates for a generation of memorable new black characters.

2016 had a fistful of marvellous new video game characters that left a mark upon the medium. From the charismatic Marcus Holloway of Watch Dogs 2, to the new star of Fifa 17's story mode Alex Hunter. So in no real order, these are the powerful new black faces that defined 2016 in games.


10. Final Fantasy XV - Sania



It's a fact there hasn't been a lot of black women to appear in Final Fantasy, it's rare you'll find a prominent black female in a large speaking role. So when Sania was first introduced in FFXV that was an unforgettable moment in the game and partly eased the frustration of the lack of diversity within Noctis' crew.

Players are first introduced to Sania through the sidequest professor's protege, which has Noctis and his friends catching frogs, this ironically has led to some players calling Sania "frog girl". As you complete her studies she gives out more sidequests for the gang to partake in.

Here we have a young black professor with natural kinky hair in a Japanese role playing game. That's a big deal and we have to applaud Square Enix for finally introducing a new black women into the series since 2001, unless you count the dark skinned bunny girl Fran from Final Fantasy XII.

9. FIFA 17 - Alex Hunter



The golden boy and main protagonist of Fifa 17, Alex Hunter is the rising star whose career you control in Fifa 17's new story mode. Not only does EA Sports deliver a spanking new single player mechanic, but also a new character who is obviously inspired by young football sensations Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Fifa 17's story mode takes you through the life of Alex Hunter and has players make tough decisions to shape his football career and lead him to glory. It's during these moments we see who Hunter really is and the reason why he was chosen as the protagonist.Technically Alex is mixed raced as he has a black mother and white father, (or possibly step dad?)

Could it have been someone else in Alex's shoes? Of course but Alex Hunter's prospect and background brings something new to the video game storytelling medium, when's the last time you've been able to play as a young man from South West London?


8. Battlefield 1 - Harlem Hellfighters



Call it cheating if you will seeing as Battlefield Hellfighters are a group of soldiers rather than one being, but it would be almost a crime not to feature them. The Harlem Hellfighters feature prominently in the single player campaign of Battlefield 1. A brave group of African American soldiers whose triumphs weren't exhibited on a large scale.

The Battlefield 1: Hellfighter Pack is inspired by the Harlem Hellfighters who were an infantry regiment during World War I made up of of black Americans that were noted for their ruggedness and the fact that they never lost a trench, foot of ground, or a man through capture to the opposition.


7. Pokemon Sun and Moon - Olivia



Deep down we knew that Game Freak wouldn't disappoint, since Pokemon Black and White they have been introducing dark skin characters into the series as Pokemon trainers, gym leaders and Elite Four members. Pokemon Sun and Moon is no different with the inclusion of Olivia and Kiawe.

We didn't know what to expect but Olivia is a dream come true. We felt she was the most unique looking Pokemon Trainer since Grant. It's not everyday you see a cool and gorgeous looking dark skin female character in a Nintendo game, so this was a refreshing change .

Looking back now it's not too much of a surprise that Olivia exists, seeing as you now can choose a black pokemon trainer. We only hope that we see more exotic dark skin characters like Olivia in future Pokemon games. 



6. Tekken 7 - Master Raven



Earlier this year Harada and Namco Bandai were under fire for the game's roster which seemingly cut all the black fighters who appeared in previous Tekken instalments like Eddy Gordo, Bruce Irvin, Marduk etc. That was until Master Raven's splendid reveal.

The Tekken series had yet to see a playable black female character (unless you count Afro-Latina Capoeria fighter Christie Monteiro), as a matter of fact there isn't a lot of dark skin female characters in fighting games whatsoever. So a character that looks like Master Raven was essential for fans who are often underrepresented.

Master Raven is a black ninja, now when's the last time you heard of a black female ninja outside of anime? Exactly. Not only that but she has braids, a sexy figure and is dark skinned. It doesn't get much better than that.

5. Mafia III - Lincoln Clay



Before we go any further, we're well aware that Lincoln Clay doesn't have two black parents, 2K made sure to remind of us at the beginning of the game, yet we decided to include Clay for the single fact that he still has a black parent.

Not only that but after completing Mafia III it's clear how some of the mean spirited folks in the game saw Clay. Besides if Lincoln Clay wasn't a factor then this spot would be reserved for Haitian crime boss Cassandra, one of my personal favorite female characters in Mafia 3, who is more than worthy of the spot.

Playing through Lincoln Clay's story shows us how much he grew as a character, from the beginning to the end. Mafia 3 was one of the realist games to come out this year and guiding a blackish anti-hero like Lincoln Clay through a racist and cutthroat setting as he interacted with friends and enemies only made this game ten times better.



4. Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan - Enzo Kori-Odan

We gotta admit this game fell of the face of earth pretty quick, but that doesn't mean it wasn't an enchanting game with a magical theme. Enter Enzo Kori-Odan, an African prince who rules over a fictional world inspired by Africa and you have one of the most underrated indie games in existence. 

When's the last time a game has allowed you to play as an black prince who is accompanied by his beautiful soon to be wife in an captivated African themed fantasy setting? Can't think of a another.

It's got to be said, Enzo Kori-Odan carries himself with class and brings originality and grace to the RPG genre. Never before have we seen a character designed in Enzo's likeness, and truth be told we don't think this would've have been possible with anyone other than a African video game studio. 



 3. Uncharted 4 - Nadine Ross



Uncharted 4 was one of the best adventure games of 2016, not only that but it also produced one of the baddest female video game characters in existence. Nadine Ross was a enjoyable reveal, in fact dare we say one of the best newcomers in the Uncharted
series.

It's not everyday you see a pretty female antagonist beat up the main protagonist of the game and live to see another day. That's one of the things that made Nadine unique, that and her beautiful kinky afro and adorable baby face.



2. The Walking Dead Game - Michonne



Michonne may have not make her debut in a video game but this woman is a total badass. The Walking dead video game series is known for it's complex and deep character development and it's through this merit that we got to know more about Michonne
and her life story.

The mini series which features Michonne and her partner Pete has to be one of the most underrated video games to come out of 2016, if you haven't played it yet and are a fan of Telltale games then we definitely recommend it.

Controlling a character like Michonne was a real blast and really made us feel like we had finally found the black heroine which video game was sorely missing. From dealing with her mental illness, ruthlessness to companion for others (depending on your choices), Michonne is one hell of an underrated female protagonist.



1. Watch Dogs 2 - Marcus Holloway



We aren't going to go into too much detail here but Marcus Holloway takes number one. Ubisoft did a great job of going from a generic try hard like Aiden in the first game to Marcus Holloway, a hip and charismatic hacker in the sequel.

We got to give credit to Ubisoft for managing to inject some soul into the second game and it wouldn't have been possible without a dude like like Marcus Holloway and that's the whole truth and nothing but the truth.